That ‘‘something’’ was composure and boy did it matter when it came to the crunch.
The Road won possibly its most important game of the season in emphatic fashion by keeping the Tigers goalless in the final quarter, coming in clutch to claim an 8.8 (56) to 6.6 (42) win.
The result sidesteps Congupna over the Tigers on percentage and keeps Kevin O’Donoghue’s outfit ahead with a game in hand.
“It was an eight-point game, it was really important for us and the same for them ― and that’s how the game played,” he said.
“It was a really tough, hard-fought contest.
“Some of those wins like that are something that you look for now and then, especially at this time of year.
“We did a lot of things right at the end of the game which is really pleasing.”
O’Donoghue referenced the game smarts to spread the play and wind the clock down under pressure, with Cobram muscling its way into dominance.
“Our backline really stood up all day, but the second half, to keep them goalless in the last quarter was sensational and it probably went a long way for us winning the game realistically,” he said.
“They got on top for about five or 10 minutes in the middle part of that last quarter, we really withstood the challenge and then were able to play smart ... that was really pleasing.”
Earlier on, Congupna took a three-point lead into quarter-time, but had it ripped away as Cobram had the rub of the green in the second term.
The Tigers kicked 3.3 to hold an 11-point buffer at half-time, then it was The Road’s turn to swing back the tides and assume the lead by the narrowest of margins with one quarter remaining.
Which is where all that composure kicked in.
A trio of Congupna players weighed in heavily on the win and O’Donogue made sure to speak on the fearlessness shown by Pat Jacobson, Charlie Boyer and Dylan Minutoli.
“Pat Jacobson and Charlie Boyer, they really had their best games by a long way,” he said.
“They’re quality players, but they just haven’t had the impact like they’ve had over the other years, but in a game where we really needed them, I was so rapt for them.
“Dylan Minutoli, he played his best game on the wing.
“He’s been in and out of the seniors and reserves, but he just put his head over the footy like he does every week, but today he did all that plus had impact, so I’m really pleased for those three.”
O’Donogue also singled out Jimmy Boyer for his dedication after playing his 100th club game, ecstatic to have a man of his calibre in his ranks despite outside interest for the silky on-baller.
“He’s our best player, we understand that, but he loves it there and it’s his home club,” he said.
“He’s had offers to go elsewhere, but he’s stuck true. He’s been a wonderful servant of the footy club and is just so well loved and that’s full credit to him.”
For Cobram, Nathan Hartley and Harry Beasley were excellent, while Congupna’s Elliot Cavallaro kicked four goals.
Moama pulled off a come-from-behind win to beat Deniliquin by three points, while Echuca United’s James Harney booted 10 majors in a 23.13 (151) to 9.8 (62) triumph over Tocumwal.
Finley’s Tom Lang almost doubled Harney’s heroics in the Cats’ 217-point beating of Rumbalara, finishing with 19, while Nathalia secured a 15.8 (98) to 3.10 (28) triumph against Numurkah on Sunday.
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